I think you’ve all heard about Microsoft’s phony statements concerning GNU/Linux and free software’s violation of 235 patents? Yeah, well, now ‘IP [intellectual property] Innovations LLC’ and ‘Technology Licensing Group’ which are by far the most obvious names for patent squatters have sued Red Hat and Novell for, uhh, making use of multiple workstations (desktops).
Have you seen or heard that in many GNU/Linux GUI desktop environments, there are multiple desktops for applications to be visible in? Yes. That somehow was patented. And if I’m not mistaken, I’ve also found the patent for the graphical user interface in itself.
In their complaint, not only didn’t they use the term GNU/Linux, but they wrote ‘Linex.’
Oh, and here’s something interesting. IP Innovations, LLC is owned by Acacia, which is also a patent squatter. In July, a senior Microsoft manager left Microsoft for Acacia. October 1 (just two weeks ago), another senior Microsoft manager left to work for Acacia. On October 9, the suits were filed.
Hmm… something smells fishy about it, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this turns out to be a Microsoft-Acacia conspiracy.
rms
